SUPER Saints showed once again in their 36-20 win at Leeds Rhinos that when they get on a roll teams are not able to live with them.

Twenty-six points in 18 second-half minutes rattled in-form Leeds and ensured Justin Holbrook’s men head to Wembley on the high of momentum being maintained despite seven of next week’s likely starters being sat in the stands.

The eye-catcher was Fijian centre Kevin Naiqama, who completed a hat-trick to take the game away from Leeds during the scoring rally.

 



 

 

Wearing his finest dancing shoes, the 30-year-old turned Leeds inside out time and time again and will go into the Challenge Cup Final against Warrington Wolves in hot form.

The work on the left flank was both pretty and ugly at times, but both ways seemed to work.

Mark Percival looked fresh and hungry as he slotted back in at left centre as though he’d never been away and linked up well with impressive Welsh flyer Regan Grace for Saints’ opening try, while left-sided back rower Zeb Taia bagged a brace of scores – the first a scramble from a kick and then a second from a wonderful Grace offload.

Saints benefited from sorting a few things out at half-time.

They had been giving away too much cheap possession and penalties and therefore spent much of the first half camped inside their own half.

> RECAP: Look back over the match as it happened

Although Leeds enjoyed a lot of the territory and promoted the ball regularly through offloads they could only find a way through Saints’ sturdy defence twice, and on each occasion the visitors responded quickly.

So for Saints to establish a commanding lead early in the second half it must have been a real kick in the teeth to a side that has now lost three times to the League Leaders’ Shield winners this year and continue their dalliance with the bottom end of the table.

Rhinos: Jack Walker; Luke Brisco, Harry Newman, Konrad Hurrell, Ash Handley; Robert Lui, Richie Myler; Ava Seumanufagai, Shaun Lunt, Adam Cuthbertson, Rhyse Martin, Brett Ferres, Trent Merrin. Subs: Brad Dwyer, Liam Sutcliffe, Peteru, Donaldson.

Saints: Jack Welsby; Matty Costello, Kevin Naiqama, Mark Percival, Regan Grace; Jonny Lomax, Theo Fages; Matty Lees, Aaron Smith, Luke Thompson, Zeb Taia, Dom Peyroux, James Bentley. Subs: Kyle Amor, Jack Ashworth, Joe Batchelor, Josh Eaves.